Former publisher Pete Ayrton now takes the role of editor-at-large. Humphreys, the editor who acquired Emma Donoghue's hit novel Room, will begin her new role in March, reporting to Profile publisher Daniel Crewe. She also edited Carol Ann Duffy, Graham Robb, Sarah Rayner at Picador.

She described herself as "absolutely thrilled", saying Serpent's Tail founder Pete Ayrton had created a "truly innovative, distinctive and dynamic list".

Ayrton, who founded Serpent's Tail as a small independent in the mid-1980s, commented: "After 25 creative, challenging years, it's time to hand over. No-one is more suited than Sam Humphreys to maintain the spirit of playful, unsettling iconoclasm that is the hallmark of Serpent's Tail. I look forward to working with her for many years to come."